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A Middletown man was arrested after he admitted to yelling “I have a gun” while inside the Giant food store at 450 E. Main St. on Friday, Dec. 22.

Donovin M. Espenshade, 22, of the 400 block of North Race Street, asked a teller what he would have to say “to get those gift cards,” according to arrest papers filed with District Justice David Judy.

“What if I said I had a gun,” Espenshade asked, to which the teller replied “I guess that would work.” Espenshade then yelled “I have a gun,” causing a panic and evacuation of the building.

Police noted that at the same time, an active shooter incident was underway in Harrisburg near the Capitol, impacting the response time.

Police from Steelton, Penn State Harrisburg, and Hummelstown also responded to Giant.

Espenshade admitted to having consumed a few alcoholic beverages and that he knew the act was “a stupid idea,” according to police.

He was charged with terroristic threats causing evacuation of a building, and public drunkenness. He waived his Dec. 28 preliminary hearing before Judy and is to be arraigned in Dauphin County Court on March 2.